as the very essence of melody, and the fascinating smiles
and blandishments of this wild young creature! It was enough to puzzle
and confound any man of ordinary susceptibility, much less one who had
a natural terror of the female sex. But I suppose it was all right.
The old lady nodded approvingly; and the three old men smoked their
pipes, and, touching their red night-caps, bid me--_Farrel! meget god
reise!_--a pleasant trip! So, without more ado, I cracked the whip,
and off we started. It was not my fault, that was certain. My
conscience was clear of any bad intentions.

We were soon out of sight of the station, and then came a steep hill.
While the pony was pulling and tugging with all his might, the girl
bounced off, landing like a wood-nymph about six feet in the rear of
the cariole; when, with strides that perfectly astonished me, she
began to march up the hill, singing a lively Norwegian ditty as she
sprang over the ruts and ridges of the road. I halted in amazement.
This would never do. Respect for the gentler sex would not permit me
to ride up the hill while so lovely a creature was taking it on foot.
Governed by those high principles of gallantry, augmented and
cultivated by long residence in California, I jumped out of the
cariole, and with persuasive eloquence begged the fair damsel to get
in and drive up the hill on my account; that I greatly preferred
walking; the exercise was congenial--I liked it. At this she looked
astonished, if not suspicious. I fancied she was not used to that
species of homage. At all events, she stoutly declined getting in; and
since it was impossible for me to ride under the circumstances, I
walked by her side to the top of the hill. A coolness was evidently
growing up between us, for she never spoke a word all the way; and I
was too busy trying to keep the horse in the middle of the road and
save my breath to make any farther attempts at conversation.

Having at length reached the summit, the girl directed me to take my
place, which I did at once with great alacrity. With another active
bound she was up behind, holding on as before with both hands to the
back of the seat. Then she whistled to the horse in a style he seemed
to understand perfectly well, for away he dashed down the hill at a
rate of speed that I was certain would very soon result in utter
destruction to the whole party. It was awful to think of being pitched
out and rolling down the precipice, in the arms perhaps